Lamp-socket.



J. DARBY & c. D. MBEKBR.

l LAMP SOGKBT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1910.

31,076,026. Patented 0013.21, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. DARBY & C. D. MEEKER.

LAMP SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED 1113.4, 1910,

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

LUYJUQ,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 Vw@ www UMTEB STATE PATENT @FFEQE JOHN BARRY, OF SUMMIT, AND CLIFFORD D. MEEKER, 0F ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

LAMP-SOCKET.

Application led February 4, 1910.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Oct. 21, 19H3.

seran no. 54eme.

To all wao/1n, may concern:

Be it known fhatwe, .loi-1N Danny and CLIFFORD D. Mamme, citizens of the United States, said DARBY residing in Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, and said Murrina residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State ot' New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a specication.

The invention relates to electric lamp sockets and in certain of its aspects more especially to sockets having a double pole and double break cont-rol of the circuit but certain features of the invention will be found useful in other kinds of sockets.

The objects of the invention will in part be obvious to those skilled in the art and will in part be 'fou-nd set forth hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

rl`he accompanying drawings, referred to herein, and forming a` part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of thel'invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

@t the drawings: Figure .1 is a side elevation of a lamp socket embodying the invention with the shell removed, and the vside support cut away on the line Y--B of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation looking at Fig. l-

from the right; F ig. 3 is an elevation looking oblquely at Fig. 1 from theleftnnd the rear; Fig. 4-is acentral vertical lsection On the line C-D of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of vthe arrows; Fig. 5 is a perspective view or' a side support for theI socket heads and tor one end oi the controller and for the detent and pawl levers and also the pull chain bell; Fig. -6 is a vdetail of the detent piece and detent lever separated for the sake ot' clearness; `F ig. 7 is a detail view of the ratchet wheel its lever, `the pawl and the spring connecting to the detentlever; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the shaft of the controller; Fig. 9 enbraces two perspective views of the controller pieces of insulating material, one Withoutthe conducting strip mounted thereon, and the other with the conducting strip mounted thereon; Fig. 1 0 comprises two perspective views showing the contact piece which :tits over and isI car-` ried by the controller memberl shown in Fig.l 9 in two diereut positions; Fig. l1 is al deas well as certain other parts, removed :tor

the sake of clearness; Fig. 13 is a bottom plan View corresponding to Figs. 3 and 4.; Fig. Mis a-'sid'e elevation, with parts broken away, of a diderent arrangement of the' pawl lever and detent lever and certain associated parts; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the actuating mechanism for the controller on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 16 is an elevation of a complete socket inclosed in the external shell.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example, one embodiment of invention, a socket structure is shown of general cylindrical form and having heads 1 and 2 of insulating material and supporting means connecting the same. The form of supporting means shown consists of standards 3 and et set into recesses or depressions in the opposed heads 1 and 2, and suitably fastened, as by screws taking into the holes 5 and '6.

lhe socket shown inthe drawings, has a double pole, double break control over the' tween them to make the circuit and to break the circuit out of contact with each brush, leaving a gap between the two contact pieces `or poles.

A. brush ,7 is shown carried on the snpporting piece 8 carried ythe Vhead 1. A

binding screw 9 serves to lconnect the brush 7 to the line. lThe .complementary brush 1Q,

that is, the one in the same branch of the circuit, 4is carried by the .head 2 and coniects' to one of the lamp terminals 11 by the screw 1 2. in the other branch of the circuit is the brush or contact ieee 15 carried on the supporting piece-14 Xed to the head 1, and provided with a` binding screw 17 to connect the Contact pieces with the line.

The en'd of this brush 15 is turned back as shown in'Figs. l and 3 to 'get a spring wiping action in the direction of the rotation of the controller. The companion contact piece 18,is carried by the head 2 and connects bythe screw 19 to the plate 2O formed on thethreaded portion 21 of the shell into which the -lamp screws. This contact piece has its end bent backwardly, similarly to the contact piece 17, to get the same spring wipingaction in the direction of the rotation of the controller.

The controller is arranged transversely of the axis of the socket, and is rotatably mounted. It comprises as herein embodied, a generally cylindrical member 25 of insulating material, and a similar member 26 at the other end thereof. Each of these members y25 and 26 is shown with a squared,

or non-cylindrical, central aperture 27 into.

which tits the squared, or non-cylindrical, shaft 28, the shaft 2S having atits ends the pintles 29 and 30 fitting into the apertures 31 and 32 in the standards or supporting pieces 3 and 4.

Each of the members 25 and 26 is provided with a conducting piece numbered 35 and 36 respectively. rlhese conducting pieces may be alike, and referring to Fig. 10 the conducting piece 35 is shown having the conducting surfaces-37 and 38 with which. the contacts or brushes 7 and 10 cooperate to closev that branch of the circuit.

These Contact surfaces 37 and 3S lie along the cylindrical part of the member 25, as

`shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and have nar-I rowed portions 39 and 40 extending therefrom along the surface of the cylindrical part and bent at right angles to lit over the edge formed by the junction of the side and end of the controller cylinder and are tail in Fig. 9.- there is a raised portion 42y and a corresponding portion 43 arranged diametrically opposite each other upon the circular edge joining the side and end of the cylinder. There are spaces 44 and 45 between said raised portions. Centrally of the end of the cylinder is shown the projecting hub 46. In assembling the contact surfaces 37 and 38 may be sprung slightly apart when they will pass over the projecting parts 42 and 43 on the end of the cylinder 25, and after passing may be released when they will spring together against the surface of the cylinder 25 and within the proj ecting parts 42 and 43.- The narrow parts 39 and 40 will then lie in the recesses 44 and 45,' and the ring 41 will lie in the circurately in position.

Mounted intermediately the cylinders 25 and 26 is the actua-ting and controlling mechanism for the controller. The fourtooth ratchet wheel k5 0 is shown with the central square aperture 51, which tits on the squared shaft 28. The four-faced detent piece 52 having the squared central aperture likewise is adapted to tit' on the squared shaft 2S as shown in Fig. 6 'of the drawings. The ratchet wheel and the detent piece are placed on the shaft i11- termediately the cylinder 25 and 26, land the shaft is then placed in position between the staiulards 3 and 4 which are fastened in position, the whole being thus rapidly and economically assembled and presenting a strong, simple, compact and accurately operating mechanism.

The detent lever 56 is shown having. the face 57 thereon to coperate with the dctent piece, said face 57 being offset' therefrom for convenience in construction. The lever 56 has a downward extending part 58 to which the spring 59 may be attached. ln the upper part of the lever is shown the aperture 60 having the recesses 61 and 62 opening therefrom substantially diametrically opposite each other. veniently shown of curvilinear form. This lever is shown with an aperture 66 and a The pawl lever 65 is conltl) transverse part 67 and 68 connecting therewith, substantially the same as those in the detent lever. Carried on the lever 65 is the pawl 69 having an aperture 70, with the transverse recesses 71 and 72 communicating therewith. Struck Aup from the end ofthe lever 65 is the T-shaped projection 74. Said projections 74 and the aperture in the pawl lever constitute a pivotal bearing for the pawl upon the lever. The T-shapcd projection 74 is of such a size that it will pass through the aperture 70 and the transverse enlargement 71 and 72, but when these transverse enlargements or recesses 71 and 72 pass out of alinement with the head of the 'l'- shaped projection 74, the, pawl is held securely in position upon the lever while free to rotate or pivot relatively thereto, `as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the parts are assembled in operative relation the pawl is always in a position where the head of the projection 4 holds it from displacement and disconnection from its lever 65 while allowing a freepivotal action. The spring 59`is shown engaging the projection 75 on the licl . troller either by the finger or by having a chain attached.

The pawl lever and detent lever are thus carried by a common mounting eccentric to the rotatable controller. The detent lever passes to one side of the controller and engages the detent piece at the side. The

pawl lever passes to the other side and,A

lin a recess in the surface of the socket head.

This part 78 is shown with its end 79 bent downwardly and having projecting therefrom the T-shaped part 80. The detent lever 56 and the pawl lever 65 may both be mounted upon said projection in substantially the same Way that the pawl 69 is mounted upon the pawl lever. When these levers are swung around into operative position, the elongated portion of the apertures is out of alinement with the elongated head of the projection 80, and these levers are thus securely held in position upon thel member 8() as a bearing, but are free for pivotal motion, as will appear from Fig. 4.

The bell or funnel for the pull chain is carried on one of the support-ing standards. Extending from the part 78 of the st-andard 4 is shown an arm or strip 84, which may also lie in a recess in the head 1, shown with a downwardly extending part 85 having an aperture 86 ther in. Fastened securely on said part 86 isshown the bell or funnel 87 for the pull chain 88. The pull chain 88 has a link 89 let into the last ball, and the lever 65 is shown with an aperture 90 therein which may be cut out to the edge of the lever with a straight cut Withoutremoving any of the metal. If the metal be then bent a little to one side the link 89 may be slipped there'over and the met-al then straightened back into position' to hold the chain firmly on the lever (see Figs. 4, A7 and 11).

In Fig. 14 the pawl and detent levers are shown pivotally mounted below the controller, the detent lever passing to one side' and engaging the detent piece 52 at the side of the controller, the pawl lever 65 passing around the controller` on the other side, and the paw] 69 engaging the ratchet wheel 50 on the opposite s1de of its axis from the pivotal bearing 80. This enables the pull Aquickly attached to the other.

chain to be carried at the top ofithe socket and for it to ,have also a straight line pull from the bell 87 to the end of the pawl lever 65. `There is also shown in Fig. 14 as a fastening means between the chain and pawl lever, a couple of prongs`92 struck up from the ends of the lever and adapted to slip in between two of the balls in the chain 88, which permits of rapid and easy assembling and yet holds the chain securely in position.

In Fig. l5 is shown an enlarged view of the parts of the controller as assembled upon the shaft 28. They conducting pieces may be simply sprung into position upon the insulating cylindrical member 25 and 26, as already described, one of the cylinders may be slipped upon the shaft'28, the detent piece and the ratchet wheel may then be slippedl on, followed by the other cylindrical member carrying its conducting strip. The shaft 28 may then be placed between the standards 3 and 4, the pintles 29'and 30 going into the apertures 31 and 32. The standards may already be attached to one of the socket heads, and may then be Before this is done, however, the detent lever and ratchet lever may have been mounted upon the T-shaped pivotal bearing 80. It will thus be seen that the socket may be very expeditiously and economically assembled, While consisting of a very few number of parts, which. are of strong construction, of very positive-and certain action, and which are securely held in position. The parts are also arranged to give a very large space between the four making and breaking points in the circuit whereby extraordinarycurrents kmay vbe carried.

The manner of operation of the. herein described mechanism, will be clearly understood from the foregoing description.

As a brief summary it may be stated that -a pull on the chain 88 will move the lever 65 and cause the pa'wl 69 to actuate the ratchet wheel 50. The movement of the lever will also put additional tension on the spring 59, and at the same time the rotatory movement of the detent piece 52 lmoves back the detentv lever, further increasing the ten# sion on spring 59. During this time the brushes are sliding over the conducting pieces 37 and 38 on the controller, the circuit being unbroken. As the detent piece 52 passes over its dead center, all the pressure on the spring 59 then acts to give a sudden, snapping movement until the next face is flat against and held by the contact piece 57 on t-he detent lever. Just after this sudden, snapping movement has begun the brushes leave their contact pieces making a quick simultaneous break at the four points 1n the circuit. The controller gets a quarter turn at each actuation and this `by Letters Patent, is:

l. A lamp socket including in combination contacts connected'to the circuit, a ro- .v tatable controller yfor making and breaking 15 the circuit at said contacts, a ratchet fixe to rotate with said controller, a detent piece fixed toV rotate with the controller, a pawl lever and a detent lever pivotally mounted on a common mounting eccentrically to said controller, one lever passing to one side of `the controller and the other passing'to the other side of said controller, and means for holding the detent to the detent piece and the pawl to the ratchet.

2. A lamp socket including in combina- 'tion' contacts connected to the circuit, a rotatable controller for making and breaking the circuit at said contacts, a ratchet fixed to lrotate with said controller, a detent piece fixed to rotate with the controller, a pawl lever and a detent lever pivotally mounted on a common mounting eccentrically to said controller, one lever passing to one side of the controller and the other passing to the other side of said controller, and a spring in tension between the detent lever and the pawl.

3. A lamp socket including in combination a rotatable controller arranged transversely of the axis of the socket, conducting pieces at each end of the controller, a -branch of the circuit ateither side of the socket vhaving contacts coperating wit-h the conducting pieces on the controller to open and close the branches of the circuit, respectively, va ratchet and a detent piece iixed' t-o rotate with the controller and located intermedately the conducting pieces,l a pawl carrying lever and a detent lever having a common pivotal mounting eccentric -to the controller and common means for holding the detent lever to the detent piece and the pawl to the ratchet wheel.

.4. A lamp socket including in combination a rotatable controller arranged transversely of the axis ofthe socket, conducting pieces at each end of the controller, a branch of the circuit at-either side of the socket having contacts cooperating with the conducting pieces on the controller to open and close the branches of the circuit, respectively, a ratchet and a detent piece iixed to rotate with the controller and located inter mediately the lconducting pieces, a pawl carrying lever and a detent lever having a comy mon pivotal mounting eccentric to the controller, the detent lever passing to one side of the controller and the pawl carrying lever passing to the other side of the controller and a spring in tension between the' detent lever and the pawl.

5. A lamp socket including in combinatio'n a rotatable controller arranged transversely of the axis of the socket, conducting pieces at each end of the controller, a branch of the circuit at either side of the socket having contacts coperating with the conductinl pieces on the controller to open and close t e branches of the circuit, respectively, a ratchet and a detent piece fixed to rotate with the controller and located intermediately the conducting pieces, a pawl carrying lever and a detent lever having a common pivotal mounting eccentric to the controller, the detent lever 'passing to one side of the controller and engaging the detent piece at the side and the pawl carrying lever passiiig to the other side around the controller, the pawl'engaging the ratchet wheel substantially opposite said pivotal mounting for the levers, and means urging said `leversy toward the controller.

6. A cylindrical lamp socket including in combination a rotatable controller arranged transversely of the axis of the socket, a detent piece and a ratchet wheel located substantially centrallyof theA controller and substantially on the diameter of the socket, a detent lever and a pawl carrying lever having a common mounting eccentric to the controller, the Idetent lever engaging the dec tent piece at one side and the pawl lever passing around the other side of the con- `troller and the pawl engagingthe ratchet wheel substantially opposite said pivotal mounting.

7. A lamp Socket including in combination a rotatable controller arranged transversely ofthe axis ofthe socket, conducting pieces at each end of the controller, a branch of the circuit ateither side of the socket having contacts coperating with the conduct-ing pieces on the controller to open and close the branches of the circuit, respectively, a ratchet and a detent piece fixed to rotate with the controller and located intermediately the conducting pieces, a pawl carrying lever and a detent lever having a common pivotal mountingV eccentric to the controller, the detent lever passing to one side of the controller and engaging the detent piece' at the side and the pawl carrying lever passing to the other side around the controller, the pawl engaging the ratchet wheel substantially opposite said pivotal mounting for the levers, and a spring intension between the detent lever and pawl.

8. A cylindrical lamp socket including in vcombination two opposed heads, supports between said heads, a rotatable controller` imanes mounted in said supports transversely of the axis of the socket, a conducting piece at each end of the controller, a line contact and a load contact inl each branch of the circuit,

the line and load contacts in one branch cooperating with one of said conducting ieces on the controller,and the line and loa contacts in the other branch of the circuit cooperating with the other contact pieces on said controller, a det-ent piece and a ratchet fixed to rotate with the controller and located intermediately said conducting pieces, a pawl carrying lever and a detent lever having a.' common pivotal mounting eccentric to said controller, one of said levers passing to one side of the controller and the other lever passing to the other side of the controller and a spring in tension between said two levers.

9. A lamp socket including in combination twoopposed heads, a plurality of supporting-members connecting said heads, contacts connected to the circuita rotatable control-ler for making and breaking the circuit at saidcontacts, a ratchet fixed to rotate with said controller, and a pawl carrying lever mounted eccentrically to said controller, one of said members of the supporting structure having means for supporting said controller and said pawl carrying lever.

10. A lamp socket including' in combination two opposed heads, a rotatable controller mounted transversely 0f the axis ofA the socket and parallel to said heads, two supports`connecting said heads a semi-circumference apart., bearings in said supports for the controller, a ratchet fixed to rotate with said controller and'I located intermediate its ends, an eccentrically mounted pawl carrying lever coperating with said ratchet and a pivotal bearing for said lever carried by one of said supports.

-11. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads, a rotatable controller, a ratchet fixed to rtotate with said controller, an eccentrically mounted pawl carrying lever coperating with said ratchet an integral support between said opposed heads, said supprts having :a bearing for the controller and a bearing for the pawl carrying lever.

12. A lamp socket including in combination two socket heads, a standard connecting said socket heads, a controller member,

a detent', a ratchet, a bearing formed on said standard, a detent lever and a pawl lever mounted on said bearing.

13. A lamp socket including in combination two opposed heads of insulating material, a controller, actuating mechanism therefor, a pull chain connected to the actuating mechanism, a funnel or bell in .which the chain runs, and a support connecting said ltively to said contact points.

heads and to which said bell is attached, and the actuating mechanism also being journaled on said support.

14. A lamp socket including in combination two heads of insulating material spaced apart, two standards connecting said heads andv located substantially a diameter apart,

a non-cylindrical shaft arranged transversely of the socket and supported and rotating on said standards, two members of insulating material mounted upon said shaft, a detent Y 'of the socketpand supported and rotating on said standards, two members of insulating material mountedv upon said Shaft, a detent piece and a ratchetwheel on the shaft between said two members of insulating material, said member, detent and ratchet having non-cylindrical apertures slipping on said shaft so that they all rotate therewith, an arm extending out from one of said standards as a support for a pa'wl and de` tent lever, and a pawl lever and a detent lever mounted thereon, substantially centrally of Saidshaft.

16. In a lamp socket a controller member of insulating material, a conducting strip mounted thereon andl having two contact pieces for connecting or disconnect-ing two separated contact points in a circuit, and projections formed .on-'said controller for holding said conductingA piece thereon rela- 17. In` a lamp socket a cylindrical member of insulating material, a contact iece extending across the end thereof an having two contact pieces lying on the cylindrical part thereof a semi-circumference apart, and projecting portions in said cylindrical member whereby movement of the conducting piece either around or lengthwise of said cylindrical member is prevented.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN DARBY. CLIFFORD D. MEEKER.

Witnesses:

JOHN D. MORGAN, Rosa MENK. 

